3 of the Best Covers of John Lennon-Penned Songs

John Lennon’s songwriting catalog with the Beatles was robust. His songs were characterized by off-kilter, heady lyrics (sometimes even nonsensical) that somehow spoke to audiences on a real level. His fellow musicians have taken great care of his songs in the wake of his death. Check out three covers of Lennon-penned Beatles songs, below.

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3 of the Best Covers of John Lennon-Penned Songs

1. “Nowhere Man” (Bob Dylan)

“Nowhere Man” is arguably one of the Beatles’ most Dylan-esque songs. That connection is made even clearer by the fact that Bob Dylan himself covered this track once. With the help of Dylan’s trademarked vocals, he makes this Lennon-penned song seem like something he could’ve written in his folkie heyday.

Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man please listen
You don’t know what you’re missing
Nowhere man, the world is at your command

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2.  “I Am the Walrus” (Frank Zappa)

Frank Zappa’s version of “I Am the Walrus” is far harsher than the original. He growls through these nonsensical verses with a fervor. It certainly had an affect on the audience, who were thrilled to have heard this Beatles classic in a live setting.

Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come
Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long

I am the eggman, they are the eggmen
I am the walrus, goo-goo g’joob

3. “Across the Universe” (Fiona Apple)

Fiona Apple takes this Lennon penned song in an entirely new direction. Her typically somber, perhaps droning vocals (in the best way possible) create a hypnotizing effect that plays into the long-winded verses of this song. Do yourself a favor if you’ve never heard Apple’s rendition of “Across the Universe” and check it out, below.

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letterbox they
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

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(Photo by G Greenwell and A MacDonald /Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)